Croatian Generals to Request Acquittal

Croatian Army generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac, convicted for war crimes in Croatia in 1995, will have their appeal hearing on May 14, the Hague Tribunal announced on Wednesday.

Boris Pavelic

Zagreb

On April 15 last year, generals Gotovina and Markac were sentenced to 24 and 18 years in prison, respectively, for their involvement in the joint criminal enterprise aimed at forcible and permanent elimination of Serb civilians from Krajina.

The Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, found the two generals guilty of persecution, murder, deportation and other crimes against Krajina Serbs and their property during and after Operation Storm in the summer of 1995.

General Ivan Cermak, who stood trial together with Gotovina and Markac, was acquitted of all charges.

The generals are appealing their sentences on the grounds that ruling that there was a joint criminal enterprise aimed at expelling Serbs from Krajina is wrong.

Gotovina and Markac’s defence teams announced they would request that their clients be acquitted of all charges.

At the hearing on May 14, Gotovina and Markac will be given an opportunity to address the Appeals Chamber, the ICTY announced.

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